The Tennessee Titans will travel to Mercedes Benz Stadium on Sunday for a road matchup with the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta and Tennessee both enter the matchup with underwhelming 1-2 records and both teams definitely have something to prove in Week 4.

Atlanta has yet to play a divisional game while the Titans have dropped two straight divisional matchups to the Colts and Jaguars the last two weeks. The Falcons will be looking to make a statement to the NFC that they are still a playoff-contending team. The Titans will have to prove that they won't punt on this season to try to secure another high draft pick.

I'm expecting this to be a tight matchup, as it seems the Falcons will only take part in close games this year. I think both of these teams are better than their 1-2 record suggests and I think the Falcons at home are still extremely dangerous.

Here are 4 reasons the Atlanta Falcons will beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 4:

4. Marcus Mariota's arm

Mariota is really one of the most fascinating football stories of the last decade for me. The Hawaii native was an undeniable superstar under Chip Kelly at the University of Oregon. One of the best dual-threat QBs college football has seen, Marcus seemed like a pretty safe bet to transition into a really good NFL starter.

Saturdays are different Sundays, though, and the speed of the opposing defense picks up when you get to the NFL, which is one reason Mariota has struggled to break out. Injuries have also hampered the fifth-year pro throughout his career but the Titans and the rest of the league were expecting more out of the former no. 2 overall pick.

This season has seen Mariota stay true to form, so to speak. While he hasn't thrown an interception through the first three weeks he has also only eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark once and has yet to record more than 40 rushing yards.

While it's still early in the season, I think the Falcons can gameplan to force Mariota to beat them with his arm rather than with his legs. Titans RB Derrick Henry is the one the Falcons defense will really have to worry about. If the Atlanta front seven can keep the running game from producing big plays then the secondary should be able to limit Mariota's passing production.

3. Matt Ryan's arm

The Titans pass defense has been one of the more impressive units in the AFC through the first three weeks. The Tennessee defense, under the leadership of head coach Mike Vrabel and DC Dean Pees, ranks 12th in the NFL in pass defense DVOA and 13th in rush defense DVOA. The Titans have given up the 4th fewest passing yards per game in the entire league.

So, why in the world would I make the case that Matt Ryan's arm will beat this stout defensive group? First, Tennessee has faced Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew and Jacoby Brissett. No offense to any of those guys but it is not exactly a murderer's row of QBs in today's NFL.

Second, he's Matt Ryan. Simply put, he's a former league MVP with arguably the most talented receiver the game has right now in addition to explosive weapons in the rest of the lineup. I'd say it's a safe bet that Matt Ryan has a big passing day at home on Sunday.

2. Kemal Ishmael

The Falcons defense lost star safety Kenau Neal to yet another season-ending injury in the first month of the season, as Neal was injured in Week 1 of 2018 as well. While it is nearly impossible to replace the presence and production of a player as good as Neal, Kemal Ishmael is no slouch and can step right in and contribute.

As noted earlier, Mariota doesn't terrify safeties with his arm. So, as long as Ishmael reads the running game and can stick with some slot receivers, it shouldn't be a big problem losing Neal…for now.

1. Divisional Urgency

Drew Brees and Cam Newton are both hurt and Jameis Winston plays for the other team in the division. Granted, Winston has been pretty good so far and Kyle Allen and Teddy Bridgewater led their teams to victories in week 3, the time for the Falcons to strike is now.

The Falcons need wins now before they start divisional play. Somehow, the NFC South is wide open. Atlanta has to capitalize Sunday.